Gallery
Just the feel of it on my flesh Makes me feel wild and feel possessed
—Joan Jett, “Black Leather”
Lindow II (Lindow Man), Iron Age, Romano-British, Human tissue, human hair, human skin, human bone, fur, animal tissue, The British Museum, 1984,1002.1, © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Thunder Elk (Sioux), Frame Drum, ca. 1887 (made), 1904 (painted), Dakotas, United States, Wood, leather, sinew (buffalo or deer); metal wire; pigment, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 89.4.3326a, b.
Anyone around the world who picks up a drum will connect with that drum because it is a memory.
—Ghislaine Gaoudreau, Algonquin of Pikwàkanagàn
Pair of Archer's Gloves, 19th century, Japan, Chamois leather, Cleveland Museum of Art, 1921.401.
Training boxing gloves used and signed by Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), Post Manufacturing Co., 1960, New York, United States, Leather, cloth, thread, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, 2012.173.3ab.
Cadzi Cody (Wind River Shoshone, 1866-1912), Scenes of Plains Indian Life, ca. 1880, United States, Elkhide, pigments, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 85.92.
Trunk, ca. 1750, New York, New York, United States, Sweet or red gum with leather, nails, wrought iron hardware, and paper lining, The Chipstone Foundation, 1997.17, Photo credit: Gavin Ashworth.
Sheath, 1900s, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mangbetu, 20th century, Gift of the Gilpin Players of Karamu House 1929.335.b, The Cleveland Museum of Art.
John Masury (American), Fire bucket, 1820, Salem, Massachussetts, United States, Painted leather and metal, Sotheby's.
Fireman's parade leather coat (kawabaori) with family crest, 19th century, Japan, Deerskin; smoked resist, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2019.20.122.
Bonnie Cashin (American, 1915-2000), Jumpsuit, 1963, United States, Leather and machine-knit mohair with elastic waist and metal snaps, RISD Museum, 80.171.8, Courtesy of the RISD Museum, Providence, RI.
Shadow puppet of the monkey hero Hanuman in the guise of Ravana's heir; from the Thai version of the epic of Rama, 1850-1900, Thailand, Hide with pigments, bamboo, Asian Art Museum, 2006.27.115.1.
Jonathan McIntosh (American), Lucha libre máscaras, 2012, San Francisco, California, United States.
Leather Shoe with Gilded Decoration, 4th–7th century, Egypt, Akhmim (former Panopolis), Gilded leather, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 90.5.34a.
When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the sole leather has passed into the fibre of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out. He is the richest man who pays the largest debt to his shoemaker.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Jesse Ramsden (British, 1735–1800), Gregorian reflecting telescope, ca. 1790, London, England, brass tube covered with green shagreen on brass folding tripod, Science Museum Group Collection, 1925-139, © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.
Campeachy chair, 1800-1825, Mexican or Central American, Mahogany and tooled leather, The Chipstone Foundation, 2018.104, Photo credit: Gavin Ashworth.
Call for the doctor!
Call for the nurse!
Call for the lady with the alligator purse!
“Mumps!” said the doctor.
“Measles!” said the nurse.
“Vote!!” said the lady with the alligator purse!
Illustration of Susan B. Anthony’s alligator purse, Wynne Patterson.
Jay Sae Jung Oh (Korean, 1982-), Chatsworth Chair, 2022, Seattle, Washington, United States, Various plastics, leather cord and plywood, Courtesy of the artist and Salon 94.
